Record Reviews

MAKOWICZ & MEDYNA ~ NEW YORK FLAVORS FOR TUNE 0174 (Barcode: 5906395808908) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is a duo album by Polish Jazz luminaries, pianist / composer Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / composer Krzysztof MedynaFind albums by this artist, both residing in the USA, but often visiting and performing in Poland. The album presents fourteen tracks, all of which are classic Jazz standards. The album was recorded at the wonderful Nowa Miodowa concert hall / studio, currently one of best sounding Polish recording studios, as this album faithfully testifies to. Both musicians have decades of experience behind them, and despite the fact that they play together since many years, this is the first release of their recording as a duo, which is a most welcome event. Their mutual respect, telepathic communication and obvious love of the subject matter are all behind the resulting music, which is nothing short of perfection incarnate. The selection of the material is of course not accidental, as both of them have always emphasized their love and devotion to the mainstream / classic Jazz Art Form, and its Blues roots. It is a fact that among the many Polish Jazz musicians, who tried to establish a career in the US, eventually only a very few achieved the recognition and respect, that so many desired. It is perhaps due to the fact that Makowicz and Medyna are “more American that Americans” in their approach to Jazz, and epitomize the devotion to the origins of the music, both on the intellectual and emotional levels. The extensive recorded legacy of Makowicz is a perfect reflection of this phenomenon. Every Jazz lover on earth should be able to hum along to the music, as all the tunes are universally familiar, but at the same time the music is a true majstersztyk, full of finesse, elegance and obvious love of music, which is heartwarming. It takes quite a few listening sessions to discover the numerous moments of sheer brilliance and playful trickery, but patience is, as always, well rewarded. Overall, this is a beautiful album of the “Art of the Duo” class, which caresses and melts the heart, without being sappy or overtly sentimental. This is pure love of music and music-making, at its finest. It goes beyond saying that this album is a must in every Polish Jazz collection, but it is also completely universal, so anybody on this planet should be able to have a field day with it.

Updated: 13/02/2026Posted: 13/02/2026

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WM PROJECT ~ FROM A FAMILIAR PLACE WM 358852 (Barcode: 191061145806) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the WM ProjectFind albums by this artist ensemble, which was formed by expatriate Polish Jazz musicians living in the US: saxophonist Krzysztof MedynaFind albums by this artist and pianist Andrzej WinnickiFind albums by this artist. The core quartet also includes American bassist Jeff DinglerFind albums by this artist and drummer Michael WinnickiFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Jeremy PeltFind albums by this artist, trombonist Marshall GilkesFind albums by this artist and another Polish expatriate guitarist Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist play on selected tracks. The album presents nine compositions, seven of which are originals written by or co-written by Winnicki and Medyna and two are standards. The music is typical American mainstream, which has little to offer as far as musical innovation is concerned. The original tunes are well written and coherent, but lack any special characteristics which would make them outstanding in any way. The personal performances are all very professional, with Sarnecki being by far the most impressive instrumentalist on this album, but the prevailing mainstream attitude prevents the music from sparkling. Nevertheless this album is entertaining and can be enjoyed by mainstream Jazz fans, who are, after all, still a majority in the US. It certainly proves that Polish Jazz musicians can stand shoulder to shoulder with their American peers.

Updated: 09/10/2018Posted: 06/10/2018

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